Rene Descartes

Author Code: FRDX

Educated by the Jesuits at the Royal College at La Fleche, Descartes received a law degree in 1616. After a short period as a soldier in the armies of the Prince of Orange in Holland and the Duke of Bavaria. An exceptionally gifted and intelligent man, Descartes travelled until he settled in Holland in 1628. His principal work, Discourse on Method, was published in 1637 and contained the famous phrase "I think, therefore I am". His metaphysical philosophies were presented in the Meditations (1641) and, based on a system of mechanical principles, his Principles of Philosophy (1644) attempts to explain natural phenomena. In 1649, he published Treatise on Passions which described his ethical views. Descartes had a tremendous influence on philosophy and literature in the 17th century and has been called the father of modern philosophy.